Avoyelles Past Pages

90 Years Ago

From our Oct. 17, 1936 editions

Lee Moreau, commander of the Marksville American Legion Post, attended the Eighth District Commanders Convention.

Odel Didier, Chalmette McCann, Beverly Bordelon and Josephine Dupuy were elected to lead the cheerleading section at the parish fair.

Lois Dufour was elected president of the newly formed Plaucheville 4-H Club.

Morgan Ernest, Jr. won first place in the swine judging competition in a frontier exposition.

J.A. Key, federal prison food inspector, complimented Sheriff G.V. Saucier and found the parish jail in excellent condition.

80 Years Ago

From our Oct. 19, 1946 editions

Reginald Hardgrove, vice-president and general manager of the United Gas Pipeline Company, was elected president of the American Gas Association.

Kobelon’s Jewelry opened a branch store in the Marksville Joffrion Building.

Vines Harris was back home in Bunkie after attending the National American Legion Convention in San Francisco. He served 18 months in Tokyo.

Mrs. Marion Gremillion joined the group of Acadiana girls and toured Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi along with them.

Father F.J. Rateau, assistant pastor at St. Joseph Church in Marksville, was assigned to Immaculate Conception Church in Natchitoches.

Robert Adams was elected president of the Evergreen FFA Chapter.

70 Years Ago

From our Oct. 20, 1956 editions

Chester Coco announced his candidacy to the proposed Constitutional Convention.

Allen Chapman of Bunkie and a field gauger with Interstate Oil Pipeline Inc, was presented a 30 year lapel button.

Margaret Lacour represented Marksville at the Rice Festival.

The first statewide polled hereford show was held at the La, Livestock and Pasture festival.

60 Years Ago

From our Oct. 20, 1966 editions

Merlin Coco was named chairman of the LSU Alumni Fund.

Terry James Bordelon of Bunkie was awarded the LSU Alumni Scholarship.

Glenn Coco of Marksville was named to the Southwestern Louisiana Student council.

Iris Travasos was elected president of the Plaucheville High PTA.

James Baronne, formerly of Bunkie, was the starting center for the Southeastern Louisiana College football team. He was awarded a scholarship and a varsity berth.

Julia Morrow Gremillion of Marksville retired as chief clerk of the Avoyelles Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service.

50 Years Ago

From our Oct. 21, 1976 editions

Marc Dupuy, Jr. chairman of the Marksville Leadership Drive, reported raising over $2000 during a one-night finance campaign at Charles Masters camp.

The school board declared an emergency situation to remove an overhang at Marksville High School.

The Bunkie Chamber of Commerce effort picked up steam to convince Gov. Edwin Edwards to locate the new north south interstate as close to Bunkie as it could.

Sterling LaBorde attained membership in the Ford Society of Professional Sales Counselors for 1976.

Paula Ford was elected president of the Marksville Catholic School 4-H.

Claire Wilson and Doris Bowie were appointed teachers at Marksville Elementary and Marksville Middle, respectively.

40 Years Ago

From our Oct. 23, 1986 editions

Glinda Doucet, teachers at Simmesport Elementary became one of the six regional finalists named in the state competition for Elementary Teacher of the Year.

Dr. Betty Washington, a native of Bunkie and a Carver High graduate, was named interim director of institutional research and planning at Albany State College.

Ann Miller was elected president of the Avoyelles Junior Leader Club.

Deacon Jones starred as Solomon Northup in the outdoor performances at Peter Tanner’s homesite, the former Epps House on Hwy 71 in Bunkie.

30 Years Ago

From our Oct. 17, 1996 editions

The Marksville City Council voted to buy two new units after Mayor John Ed Laborde said four of the six police cars were out of service.

A near riot took place in Bunkie when a large group of people wearing blue bandannas and after being told to move fired shots and surrounded a BPD unit. Police departments, sheriff deputies and state troopers helped and eight people were arrested.

Riverside Elementary in Simmesport elected 4-H officers, who were Megan Voiselle, president; Eddrick McGhee, vice-president; Cody Coco, secretary; Matthew Desselle, treasurer; Jarrod Kimble, reporter; Kelly Lemoine, parliamentarian; Patrice Lee and Dennis Gunnells, recreation leaders.

An historical marker was placed in Moncla at the Community Center. The marker told of the colonization of the area, which was a steamboat landing and stage coach stop back in the 1700’s.

20 Years Ago

From our Oct, 19, 2006 editions

Mitchell Laprarie, age 27 of Brouillette, drowned in the Red River when his truck and boat trailer slipped into the water, trapping him in the truck.

The Bunkie City Council was upset over the deplorable condition of Hwy 29 and called it “an embarrassing approach to Bunkie.”

The Cottonport town council fired police officer Cornell Walker, Jr. after he had been questioned about several incidents while he was on duty where he was acting out of line for a police officer.

Marksville’s homecoming queen for 2006 was Kayla Barton with runner-up Amy Dupuy.

10 Years Ago

From our Oct. 16, 2016 editions

School board members were upset by Sheila Blackman-Dupas’ published criticism of the local school system. Two board members felt she should resign.

Erin Simon, Marksville native, auditioned for “The Voice” talent show and was put through to the second round.

The Bunkie Panthers lost to the Pickering Red Devils when the officials decided to put extra seconds on the clock when time had actually expired.